Flasher control switch for display devices



Sept. 23, 1958 E. H. Mox-:ssEN 2,853,568

FLASHER CONTROL SWITCH FOR DISPLAY DEVICES Original Filed March l. 1955 INVENTOR.

United States Patent O FLASHER CONTROL swITcH'FoR DISPLAY k DEVICES Erich H. Moessen, Kalamazoo, Mich.

1 Claim. (Cl. 200-32) This invention relates to a flasher control switch for display devices and is a division of my application for Letters Patent for Illuminated Display Device and Flasher Switch Apparatus, tiledv March -1, 1955, Serial No.'

49 1,'505. The main objects of this invention aref I First, to provide a flasher type switch apparatus adapted for controlling a plurality .of circuits in which the timing of the opening and closing of the circuits may be readily varied by others than an electrician.

Second, to provide a asher switch apparatus adapted for use in connection with display devices, signs and the like which is simple and compact and at the same time has a very substantial range of timing adjustment.

i Objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined and pointed out in the claim.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a fragmentary elevational view of a switch apparatus embodying my invention with the housing shown in vertical section.

Fig. l-a is a front elevational view of the display device of my invention with parts broken away to show structural details, the switch mechanism of Fig. 1 and the display device of Fig. l-a being illustrated as connected by an electric cable.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary top or planview of the switch apparatus partially in section.

In the accompanying drawing certain of the parts are shown conventionally as the details thereof form no part of the present invention. The asher switch apparatus of my invention is particularly adapted for use in connection with an ornamental display device although it is desirable for use in connection with a sign Vor similar apparatus.

Referring to Fig. 1, the base 1, which is provided with rubber feet 2, has upstanding border flanges 3 to which the housing 4 is secured as by means of screws indicated at 5. The motor 6 is mounted upon the base as is also the speed reducing transmission, the housing 7 of which is also mounted on the base.

The shaft 8 of the motor is connected to the input shaft 9 of the transmission by the coupling 10. The

driven or out-put shaft 11 of the transmission projects from the side of the casing. I have not illustrated the details ofthis speed reducing transmission as they form no part of my present invention.

'I'he bracket 12 is secured to the housing 7 by the screws 13 and has an opening therein through which the shaft I 11 projects. The shaft 11 is provided with a crank arm 14 and has a cam 15 mounted thereon at the inner side of the crank arm. The rocker 16 is pivotally mounted on the bracket at 17 and has a longitudinal slot 18 in its lower end with which the crank pin 19 engages so that a complete oscillated stroke or cycle of the rocker is made on each revolution of the shaft 11.

A cross arm 20 is mounted on the upper end of the ICC ' rocker at 21 and is provided at each end with a mercury switch holder 22 desirably in the form of clips. The switch holders 22 are tiltably secured to the arm 20 by means of screws 23. The mercury switches 24 are disposed in these holders 22 in opposed relation, that is the contacts thereof are disposed in the same relation to the rocker desirably in an outward position so that the switches are closed on their downward swing or movementand opened on the upward swing thereof.

A third switch 25 is mounted on the switch arm 26 which is pivoted at 27 on the bracket 12 with its inner end below and in supported engagement with the cam 15. The switch arm 26 is provided with a holder 28 for the switch 25.

The bus bar 29 mounted on the base 1 is provided with binding posts 30, 31, 32 and 33, the lead-in circuit 41 are connected to the binding posts 32, 33 andv31 respectively. The circuit wires 42, 43 and 44 are connected to the binding post 45.

The cam 15 is double lobed so that the switch 25 is opened twice during one complete cycle of the rocker 16. The purpose of this being to open and close the circuit for one group of lamps in the display device in timed relation to the opening and closing of the circuits for two other groups of lamps.

I have illustrated my flasher switch apparatus in connection with a display device of Fig. l-a which comprises an annular border frame 46, an upright centrally disposed cross bar 47 and a cross arm 48 disposed thereon above the center of the border frame. The cross bar 47 and the cross arm 48 thereof simulate a cross in the display device illustrated. The border frame is provided with a facing 49 which conceals the border frame and in the embodiment illustrated simulates a wreath. The cross bar 47 and its cross arm 48 is provided with a concealing facing 50 which is desirably of a different character than that of the border frame, both facings being desirably ornamental in character.

A plurality of lamp sockets, shown conventionally at 51, are mounted in a uniformly spaced series on the cross bars 47 and its cross arm 48 and these are connected in series by the wires indicated at 52. A plurality of uniformly spaced lamp sockets are mounted on the border frame. These alternate lamp sockets being connected in series to provide two series of lamp sockets 53 and 54, the wiring being conventionally shown at 55, 56, and 57. The lamp circuitsbeing combined in the cable 58 to be controlled by the switches described.

The lamps of the different series are of different colors. In the accompanying drawing I have illustrated one of the border series as being blue and the other red and those of the center or inner series as being white, the letters B, R, and W are applied to the drawing to indicate this. All three series of lamps are provided with reflectors 59 desirably star shaped. These are disposed in overlying relation to the facings described. The colors blue and red are conventionally illustrated in the drawing. It will be understood that all of the reflectors of a connected series are desirably of the same color.

With the parts arranged as illustrated the lamps of the inner or cross portion of the display are turned on and olf in timed sequence with the turning on and off of the two series of lamps of the border frame. This may be substantially varied as to timing by the adjustment of the switch holders 22.

While I have illustrated my improved asher switch apparatus in connection with the display device disclosed in my original application, Ser. No. 491,505, I desire to point out that it is well adapted for use in connection'with-,vines-andgother display devic'es'orA apparatus where more than one `series of lampsnal'emsuccessively,l

present in a circuit. The control device of my invention is very simple and notlikely to get out of order;

is. compact and,iscapab1e ,oan/ery considerable-range@ of adjustment by persons y other-:than :skilled -\el ectricians-,

I have. illustrated invention ;-in, A a highlyg practical? embodiment thereof.E I have notv attemptedtoillustratep,

or vdescribe other embodiments or adap,tfatiorlst@which-y 1 contemplate:v as` it is 4,believed E this disclosure, ,will enablemaybey desired. v

10 those skilledvrin thepart to embody}or ,adaptrthe -same-as,.

Having thus-described,theinventionwhat is claimedfg.,

as'rnew andrisdesiredto befsecuredrby Letters Patent is:

A.asherg switch apparatus for display devices,3 signeand l.the ,like .comprising a 1base-an electric.' motorV and aspeed.redueingstransmission driven by said-l motor and f including a housing mounted on said base,; a' bracket mountedpnq. saidllcaursirl'g,E a transmisssion driven shaft projectingfrom said rhousing-and,throughsaid bracket, a longitudinally slotted-rocker arm pivotally; mounted onrhsaid bracket, ,said driven shafthaving a .crank arm.V provided with a .crank pin engagedin the slot, of said- Y rocken-arm, a-crossarm,monnt edon said rocker 4arm andoifse't radially fromfthe,pivotaLmounting yofftheV ,25 rocker arm, mercury' switch holders,rotatab1y adjustablyf mounted by pivotal connections on said cross arm with lhilxcsf rotatable adjustmentparallellto Athepivota1:.

cam` being positioned relative` to vsaid crank arm so that,

the'- switch ,on said .switch :armA is' opened and; closed: in timed relation to` theopening andclo's'ing of the: painof switches mounted on said cross arm, the opening and closing of said pairoaswitchesfbeing.further timeable by the adjustment of the switch holders on said cross arm.

l References Cited ,ini the; tileA of- ;this patentI 

